Equestrian Life

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Monday, September 24, 2007

Fort Worth - Sunday - Adoption Day!

Last night, I did not sleep at all. I stayed late at the barn and hung out with Patriot. I was so scared I was going to lose him. I was happy and sad that nobody approached me to talk about adopting Pate. Maybe nobody wanted him? I was really emotional and started to cry.

I saddled him up and went down to the warm up arena to practise. They told us that we could show off our mustangs using some of the freestyle stuff we prepared. I worked Pate at liberty in the round pen and he was perfect. Sure, now you cooperate! I got on to ride and he rode exceptional and soft. Hmmm..

I was called to the adoption arena and when I got there, realized that I had forgotten my bidder card. Yikes! I asked if I had time to retrieve it and they said yes. I was not going to lose Pate today because I forgot my bidder card! I madly trotted to my stall and retrieved my card and loped back to the arena. In a panicked voice, I asked the auction crew how to bid and how to be high bidder. They told me just to tell the auctioneer that I wanted to be high bidder and how high I was willing to go. I told them, "As much as it takes!" All the horses that before us went for $2500 or less, so I felt confident that I could match that. My dad was willing to help out with the price up to that much. Thanks DAD!

Turns out I still had a few minutes and they provided a small warm up arena inside the main arena. I went in to ride and did a typical dressage warm up showing the crowd how soft and supple he was. I waited my turn in a panic, near tears.

I was given a couple minutes to tell the crowd about Pate. I told the crowd "That he was a fantastic horse. So fantastic, that I am taking him home!" Then the bidding war began, literally! All the people who were interested in Pate came out of the woodwork and started bidding. The price jumped from $1000.00 t0 $2500.00 in three bids. Then to $3000.00 and to $3500! As I trotted around the arena, purposely NOT showing him off, I was in tears, as I thought I was going to lose him. He was worth more to me than money, but I could only go so high. The bidding started to slow between $3500.00 and $3900.00. I heard the "SOLD!", but was not sure if I had won.

When I found out he was mine, I burst into tears and started shaking madly. I adopted Patriot, my little star, for $3900.00. I reached down and gave him a huge hug and struggled out of the arena in tears. I kept hearing people tell me congratulations and I thanked them. I had to sign some paper work as I exited. I was shaking soo bad that my signature was unreadable. As I left the arena, I was surrounded by the media, RFD-TV, Newsweek. They interviewed me as I was crying my eyes out. I could barely speak. They just smiled at me and kept filming. I went back to Pate's stall to many congratulations. My fellow trainers knew how badly I wanted him and they were happy for me.

Pate was the first horse in the arena to go for over $2500.00. He was not the highest priced mustang today, but he was MY mustang. I am soo happy to be taking him home! Many thanks to my fellow bidders for letting me!

6 comments:

I am so happy that you got to keep your mustang! I have two mustangs of my own and could not imagine having to auction them off or sell them period. They tug at your heart strings thats for sure! Congrats on getting to be the one to bring him back home, I'm so happy for you!

I have been captivated with your story from the beginging. Like a great novel I have been on the edge of my chair and talking to myself with every new entry. I'm delighted the ending was a tear jerker. Nice Work Jamie!!

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About Me

Before my adventures in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Competitions, I was not a professional horse trainer. These events made me realize that I should be. I do these events for fun and for the personal challenge they provide. They are a test of the skills I have gathered over the years with horses. I considered my first EMM my "Fourth Decade Adventure", as my first EMM mustang arrived 3 days before my 40th birthday! Now, after being accepted to 5 of these events, I feel that training mustangs is truely my calling. I provide a pleasant human foundation to horses that should otherwise be running free on the range.